67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day

Last updated

67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day
TypeInternational non-profit organisation
Founded27 January 2014
Founder Carolyn Steyn
Website https://67blankets.co.za/

67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day is an international non-profit organisation founded in South Africa to commemorate the first democratically elected President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.

Contents

History

The charity was started in December 2013 when Nelson Mandela's former assistant, Zelda la Grange, challenged Carolyn Steyn to knit 67 blankets to support the annual Mandela Day to be donated to those in need. [1] Mandela Day was declared an annual international day by the United Nations in 2009, in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on the 18th July, being Nelson Mandela's birthday. [2]

In 2015, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day was introduced by the South African Department of Correctional Services as part of an offender rehabilitation programme in South African prisons. [3]

Guinness World Records

Since its establishment, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day has set three Guinness World Records, namely:

Other Notable Events

To commemorate 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day partnered with the Zonderwater Maximum Correctional Centre in Cullinan, South Africa and the South African Department of Correctional Services to produce and display a portrait of Nelson Mandela made up of around 4,000 individual blankets. [7]

In collaboration with the Johannesburg International Mozart Festival, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day attempted to break a Guinness World Record for the most people crocheting in one place simultaneously, in the Linder Auditorium in Johannesburg. [8]

On 9 June 2021, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day unveiled its hand-crocheted and knitted Bokke Blanket in honour of the national rugby team, the Springboks, who won the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winnie Madikizela-Mandela</span> South African activist and politician (1936–2018)

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, also known as Winnie Mandela, was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician, and the second wife of Nelson Mandela. She served as a Member of Parliament from 1994 to 2003, and from 2009 until her death, and was a deputy minister of arts and culture from 1994 to 1996. A member of the African National Congress (ANC) political party, she served on the ANC's National Executive Committee and headed its Women's League. Madikizela-Mandela was known to her supporters as the "Mother of the Nation".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albertina Sisulu</span> South African anti-apartheid activist (1918–2011)

Nontsikelelo Albertina Sisulu was a South African anti-apartheid activist, and the wife of fellow activist Walter Sisulu (1912–2003). She was affectionately known as "Ma Sisulu" throughout her lifetime by the South African public. In 2004 she was voted 57th in the SABC3's Great South Africans. She died on 2 June 2011 in her home in Linden, Johannesburg, South Africa, aged 92.

The Rivonia Trial is a trial that took place in apartheid-era South Africa between 9 October 1963 and 12 June 1964, after a group of anti-apartheid activists were arrested on Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia. The farm had been the secret location for meetings of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the newly-formed armed wing of the African National Congress. The trial took place at the Palace of Justice, Pretoria, and led to the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Denis Goldberg, Raymond Mhlaba, Elias Motsoaledi, Andrew Mlangeni. Many were convicted of sabotage and sentenced to life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African rand</span> Official currency of South Africa

The South African rand, or simply the rand, is the official currency of the Southern African Common Monetary Area: South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini. It is subdivided into 100 cents and the rand and cents are separated by a comma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmed Kathrada</span> South African politician (1929–2017)

Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada, sometimes known by the nickname "Kathy", was a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makgatho Mandela</span> Son of Nelson Mandela (1950–2005)

Makgatho Lewanika Mandela was the son of Nelson Mandela and his first wife Evelyn Mase. He is the father of Ndaba Mandela and Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela. He died of AIDS on 6 January 2005 in Johannesburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitutional Court of South Africa</span> Supreme court of South Africa

The Constitutional Court of South Africa is a supreme constitutional court established by the Constitution of South Africa, and is the apex court in the South African judicial system, with general jurisdiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drakenstein Correctional Centre</span> Prison in South Africa

Drakenstein Correctional Centre is a low-security prison between Paarl and Franschhoek, on the R301 road 5 km from the R45 Huguenot Road, in the valley of the Dwars River in the Western Cape of South Africa. The prison is the location where Nelson Mandela spent the last part of his imprisonment for campaigning against apartheid.

James Terence Small was a South African rugby union winger who played for the Springboks. His international debut was against the All Blacks in 1992 and he made his final appearance against Scotland in 1997. In that final test match, he scored his 20th try, becoming the leading Springbok try scorer, eclipsing Danie Gerber's record. He was also the leading try scorer in the 1996 Super 12 season.

Zwelivelile "Mandla" Mandela, MP is the tribal chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and the grandson of Nelson Mandela. He graduated from Rhodes University with a degree in Politics in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award</span>

The Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award is awarded annually by the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust. It is considered the top award for research on the African continent.

The Milpark Hospital is a private hospital in western Parktown, Johannesburg, in the area known as Milpark, and owned by Netcare Limited. It has a level 1 accredited trauma unit, and cardiology and cardio-thoracic services. It has 346 beds, of which 95 are used for high care and intensive care. The hospital also houses the only Gamma Knife unit in South Africa. The Netcare Milpark Level One Trauma Centre is the first privately owned hospital in South Africa and the most advanced healthcare facility in Southern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death and state funeral of Nelson Mandela</span> Death of South African President and antiapartheidist

On 5 December 2013, Nelson Mandela, the first President of South Africa to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, as well as the country's first black head of state, died at the age of 95 after a prolonged respiratory infection. He died at around 20:50 local time (UTC+2) at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, surrounded by family. His death was announced by then President Jacob Zuma on national television at 23:45. Reactions from governments, international organizations, and notable individuals, gained worldwide media coverage.

Iqbal Survé is a South African entrepreneur, billionaire, medical doctor, and philanthropist. He is the Chairman of Sekunjalo Investment Holdings, a diversified investment firm based in Cape Town, and the Non-Executive Chairman of Independent Media, one of South Africa's largest media companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Nelson Mandela, Johannesburg</span> Statue in Sandton, Gauteng

The statue of Nelson Mandela is a large bronze sculpture of the former President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, located in Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, Gauteng.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoleka Mandela</span> South African writer and activist (1980–2023)

Zoleka Zobuhle Mandela was Nelson Mandela's granddaughter and a writer and activist in South Africa. She wrote about her addictions in sex, alcohol and drugs, her daughter's death, and her own battles with breast cancer, which killed her in 2023. She wrote When Hope Whispers in 2013.

<i>Madiba</i> (miniseries) 2017 American biographical drama television miniseries

Madiba is a three-part American biographical drama television miniseries documenting the true lifelong struggle of Xhosa human rights activist, lawyer, political prisoner, and eventual president of South Africa Nelson Mandela to overthrow the oppressive regime of institutionalized racism and segregation known as apartheid. The series stars Laurence Fishburne, Orlando Jones, David Harewood, Michael Nyqvist, Terry Pheto, Jason Kennett and Kate Liquorish. The three-part miniseries made its debut on BET on February 1, 2017, concluding on February 15, 2017.

A Statue of Nelson Mandela was unveiled on 24 July 2018. It was placed on the balcony of Cape Town City Hall overlooking the Grand Parade, Cape Town, South Africa. Nelson Mandela was the first post-apartheid president of South Africa and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saray Khumalo</span> Female South African mountaineer

Saray Khumalo is a Zambia-born, South African explorer and mountaineer. In May 2019, she became the first black African woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolyn Steyn</span> South African media personality

Carolyn Steyn is a South African media personality and founder of the non-profit organization, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day. In 2022, Carolyn Steyn received French Ordre national du Mérite.

References

  1. Gules, Nicki. "Prisoners go from crime to crocheting blankets for Madiba". Citypress. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  2. "Nelson Mandela International Day". www.un.org. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  3. Wits Justice Project. "Knitting broken lives together stitch by stitch – Wits Justice Project". www.witsjusticeproject.co.za. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  4. "It's official! Mandela blanket a world record". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  5. "Largest crochet blanket". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  6. "Longest crocheted scarf - team". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  7. "South Africans called to honour Madiba's legacy". SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2022.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. "'KnitWits' smash world record in honour of Mandela". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  9. "67 Blankets initiative unveils big Bokke blanket in Steyn City". Midrand Reporter. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.